True to form, Colts craft a victory

The Colts methodically chugged down the field in their late fourth-quarter drive to score and take time off the clock. Running backs Dan Herron, left, and Trent Richardson carried eight consecutive times to the Texans' 6 en route to the field goal that put Indy up by seven. less

The Colts methodically chugged down the field in their late fourth-quarter drive to score and take time off the clock. Running backs Dan Herron, left, and Trent Richardson carried eight consecutive times to the ... more

Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff

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Texans running back Alfred Blue (28) is stopped at the line of scrimmage by Colts outside linebacker Erik Walden (93) and defensive end Cory Redding (90) during the fourth quarter. Blue had 26 yards on eight carries on the day. less

Texans running back Alfred Blue (28) is stopped at the line of scrimmage by Colts outside linebacker Erik Walden (93) and defensive end Cory Redding (90) during the fourth quarter. Blue had 26 yards on eight ... more

Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff

True to form, Colts craft a victory

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INDIANAPOLIS - Ryan Fitzpatrick was gone, the Texans were on their third quarterback of the season, and Tom Savage was starting to figure it out Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

It was third down and 4 at Indianapolis' 42-yard line with 7:24 left in the fourth quarter and the Colts hanging on to a four-point lead.

Savage threw right, missing wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Fourth down and four. Savage threw right again and again missed Hopkins.

With 7:18 left, Indianapolis regained possession. A 10-play, 47-yard drive followed, taking 5:03 off the clock and ending with a 29-yard Adam Vinatieri field goal to give the Colts a 17-10 lead that would not change.

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The Texans contained quarterback Andrew Luck, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and the NFL's No. 2 scoring offense for three-plus quarters. A failed fourth down gave Luck a short field, reignited Indy and helped end a winnable road game.

"We struggled offensively, but we made just enough plays down the stretch," Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. "The last drive was huge, was critical, took a lot of time off the clock.

"The three points was enough. It was enough."

The Texans entered the AFC South contest with an NFL-best 71.4 percent success rate (10 of 14) on fourth down.

They were 0-for-3 in a stadium where they've never won, with the gutsy failed fourth-and-4 paired with a failed fourth-and-1 with 1:02 left in the first half.

What appeared to be another Shane Lechler punt became an Alfred Blue stuff, with the rookie running back losing 2 yards after a direct snap.

The Texans survived that breakdown, as Luck propelled the Colts to the Texans' 48 but didn't get farther before halftime.

They couldn't outlast the fourth-quarter misfire.

Luck was 18-of-34 for 187 yards and a 76.5 rating, possessing worse numbers than Savage until late in the game.

Then Savage missed Hopkins on fourth down, and Indy took over. Luck scrambled for 8 yards up the middle. Eight consecutive runs followed, with Daniel Herron and Trent Richardson rolling Indy from the 50 to the Texans' 6.

Only a field goal

"They did a good job of running the ball, and we didn't do a good enough job stopping it," Texans defensive end J.J. Watt said. "But when it came time to stop it - hold them to a field goal to give a chance - we did."

They didn't do enough. The Texans have been to Indy 13 times and never won. They endured losing Fitzpatrick and Savage figuring it out Sunday and were still one drive from changing their season.